Still Watching the Skies: Episode 37 “Quatermass and the Pit & Prince of Darkness”

Robert, Nat, and Cody are feeling a little devilish and we bring you the fiendish pairing of QUATERMASS AND THE PIT alongside John Carpenter’s PRINCE OF DARKNESS.

QUATERMASS AND THE PIT features pits both literal and metaphorical as an unusual object is uncovered during construction of a subway tunnel located near Hobbs End. That name ends up being prophetic as the discovery ends up having implications in man’s understanding of the concept of Satan as well as implications into the very origin and nature of mankind.

QUATERMASS AND THE PIT was the third serial and third Hammer movie based on Nigel Kneale’s Bernard Quatermass, this time played by Andrew Keir. It features the series most ambitious premise? But how well does it work as a film? Do we prefer Andrew Keir to Brian Donlevy? What’s Nigel Kneale trying to say? How well does science and religion mix here? What do we feel has been influenced by the story and film? We have a lot to discuss here.

Likewise, John Carpenter’s PRINCE OF DARKNESS is a film that we’ve seen before. With a screenplay by “Martin Quatermass” John Carpenter is wearing his influences on his sleeve. It’s another look at science and religion with James Hong and Donald Pleasance representing those two spheres.

Like a lot of John Carpenter films, there’s a large diverse ensemble cast. We run down our opinions of the cast, Jameson Parker’s mustache, and Donald Pleasance in particular. John Carpenter’s strategy for setting the scene is discussed in depth. And we talk about siege films and how PRINCE OF DARKNESS works or falls short. There’s a lot of affection for PRINCE OF DARKNESS on the podcast, although there is dissent about some of the particulars.

We also talk contests. And Cody makes a shocking discovery involving Robert.

Rather than patiently unearthing evidence, give us a play below or Download the episode. Also, feel free to let us know what you think by commenting below or Email Us at [email protected] as we appreciate feedback.

Timetracks:

00:00 – 41:31 – QUATERMASS AND THE PIT

41:31 – 1:20:20 – PRINCE OF DARKNESS

1:20:20 – End – Wrap up and next episode.

Next month, we journey to the early 1990s and Richard Stanley’s HARDWARE which combines killer robots and civilization’s decay (and which may have been inspired by the British comics magazine 2000 A.D.). We hope you’ll join us.